Ex-Leeds teacher broke his court order

A sex offender who broke the terms of a court order by giving a boy a lift in his sports car could face prison after his case was committed to a higher court.

Retired Leeds school teacher David Hope will have to find out his fate at crown court after being told his case was too serious for magistrates to deal with.

Telford Magistrates Court heard Hope had also stayed at a place where another boy, aged under 16, was residing during a visit to Ludlow, Shropshire, from his home in Leeds.

The 69-year-old, who previously taught music, was made subject of a sexual harm prevention order lasting five years in 2013 after being caught in possession of indecent images of children. It prohibited him from having unsupervised contact with a boy under the age of 16, among other things.

Hope was categorised as being at “high risk” of re-offending, despite completing programmes with the probation service which were designed to address his behaviour.

Hope, of Granby Close in Headingley, had previously admitted failing to comply with the requirements of the sex offenders register and breaching his order.

Emma Lineton, representing Hope, said Hope found there was no phone signal when he was in Ludlow, and then he forgot about informing the police of his situation.

Miss Lineton said: “In terms of the car journey with the child he accepts that was incredibly poor judgement on his behalf. He knows he is in a very serious situation.”

Magistrates were told “all options” were open to them to sentence Hope, including prison. But they deemed the case so serious they committed Hope to Shrewsbury Crown Court to appear before a judge.